Among the best destinations to look for sailings that offer more dynamic activities are Canada and the US. While aboard, you explore coastlines and rivers, fjords and waterways; before and after the cruise, take time for a fly-drive holiday or a city break.

Shore excursions offer opportunities for hiking, biking or kayaking tours, unique wildlife encounters or activities exploring local heritage and culture – from a market tour in Seattle or wine tasting in Walla Walla to music in Memphis or shopping in Minneapolis.

Northeast coast

Growing rapidly in popularity are cruises between New York and Quebec City, taking in New England’s Atlantic coast, stopping in Canada’s maritime provinces and sailing up the St Lawrence River. The most spectacular time of year to travel is in autumn, when fall foliage drapes the shoreline in hues of scarlet, orange and gold.

Shops in CharlottetownCredit:
Peter Unger/Peter Unger

Port stops include swish Newport, the home of Gilded Age mansions, and delightful Charlottetown, the tiny capital of Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province. Take Holland America Line’s excursion from Sydney in Nova Scotia to the commanding Fortress Louisbourg, where costumed interpreters go about life à la 1744 (US$85/£70).

Top tip

In contrast to the history of Old Quebec, everything is très moderne in the revitalised neighbourhood of Saint-Roch, situated just beyond the city walls. Check out the stylish boutiques, art galleries and cafés on Rue Saint-Joseph.

Old Quebec

Holland America Line offers a 10-night Colors of Canada and New England cruise aboard MS Zuiderdam from Quebec City to New York, departing September 20, 2017. From £1,199pp excluding flights (0843 374 2300; hollandamerica.com).

Inland to Montreal

For something completely different, travel from New York to Montreal aboard the 44-cabin Grande Caribe. Small enough to cruise up the Hudson River and through the Erie Canal to Lake Ontario, this intimate ship meanders through the Thousand Islands and along the St Lawrence River. The cruise fare includes use of the ship’s bikes and kayaks.

New for this year is more time in the Saguenay Fjord, northeast of Quebec City. An on-board naturalist points out the wildlife in this spectacular combination of cliffs, forests and water, one of North America’s best beluga whale-watching spots. The trip ends in cosmopolitan Montreal, which is celebrating its 375th anniversary this year.

The Saguenay FjordCredit:
AP

Top tip

In Montreal’s characterful Old Port, the Cité Mémoire turns history into (virtual) reality. Projected onto buildings and trees, around 60 video images tell stories of the city, from its First Nations and European settlers to favourite son Leonard Cohen singing Suzanne. Download the free app, log on to the free Wi-Fi and enjoy the words, music and graphics (montrealenhistoires.com).

North American Highways offers a 13-night cruise aboard Grande Caribe from New York to Montreal, or vice versa, departing New York on August 28 or Montreal on September 12. From £3,215pp excluding flights (01924 682008; nahighways.co.uk).

Pacific Northwest

Whales and seals, sea lions, cheeky sea otters and birds galore: the inland waters shared by the US and Canada teem with wildlife. But there is so much more; on the American side, Washington state has the spectacular Olympic Peninsula, the bustling port of Seattle and the unspoiled San Juan Islands. Across the border in British Columbia, the city of Victoria is where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were based during their royal visit last year, and the Gulf Islands offer a rural idyll of artists, cheesemakers and vineyards.

Further north is one of many oh-wow sights: Princess Louisa Inlet with its mile-high granite cliffs and 60 waterfalls. You can see it all aboard Safari Quest, a 22-passenger motor yacht that is small enough to explore tiny coves and harbours. Listen to the underwater action via hydrophones and make use of the yacht’s kayaks and paddleboards.

North America Travel Service offers a seven-night British Columbia’s Yachters’ Paradise round trip from Seattle aboard Safari Quest, with departures in April, May, September, October and November 2017. From £4,225pp including one hotel night in Seattle (0333 323 9099; northamericatravelservice.co.uk).

Columbia river

Native American tribes, French trappers and, most famously, the American explorers Lewis and Clark all followed the mighty Columbia river. Cutting through the Cascade mountain range, it snakes west to Portland and on to the Pacific Ocean. Along the way it forms the border between the states of Washington and Oregon as it flows through world-class vineyards and the awesome Columbia River Gorge.

The Columbia River cuts through the Cascade mountain range and snakes west to Portland Credit:
AP

Today, small ships cruise the Columbia and also the Snake and Willamette rivers. As well as taking in the views, many of these trips cater for wine lovers, with tastings and talks by wine experts on board and, on land, winery tours and more tastings in towns with plenty of character, such as Walla Walla.

Top tip

In craft-beer-mad America, Portland is regularly rated the country’s best beer city. Find out why on an entertaining and informative three-hour BeerQuest walking tour that visits three brewpubs ($55/£45; beerquestpdx.com).

Windows on the Wild offers an eight-day Rivers of Wine Columbia River cruise, a round trip from Portland on SS Legacy, which has two hot tubs. From £3,846pp (020 8742 1556; windowsonthewild.com).

Lower Mississippi

From Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, the fabled Mississippi flows for some 2,350 miles – and its character changes along the way. As you travel by paddleboat between New Orleans and Memphis, the emphasis is on the romance of the South, with grand mansions and lush gardens.

The cities of Baton Rouge, Natchez and Vicksburg ooze history, while even the much smaller St Francisville has six different plantation homes. Music is everywhere: jazz, blues and, of course, Elvis, whose death 40 years ago is marked in Memphis this year.

Baton RougeCredit:
AP

Top tip

New Orleans is a must for anyone interested in fine food and drink. Get the lowdown on shaking and stirring with a top-of-the-range cocktail-making class (drinklabnola.com) or sample local cuisine on a foodie walking tour (destination-kitchen.com).

Light Blue Travel sells 10-night cruises on the paddlewheel ship American Queen, with regular departures from New Orleans and Memphis. From £2,895pp with two pre-cruise hotel nights. Hop On Hop Off coach transport is provided at each port stop (01223 568904; lightbluetravel.co.uk).

Upper Mississippi

“The finest part of the Mississippi” is how all-American author Mark Twain described the northern segment of Ol’ Man River. Sail from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St Paul to Dubuque in Iowa and you will see fertile farmland and dramatic limestone bluffs, barges, pleasure boats and wildlife.

Ashore, take included excursions to watch artists at work in the Red Wing pottery, and tour Villa Louis, home of a 19th-century lumber and fur magnate in Prairie du Chien.

As for Mark Twain, you can find out more about his life and works while on board by chatting to his convincing impersonator, Lewis Hankins. With his whiskers and white suit, you can’t miss him.

Top tip

Shopping malls in the US don’t get bigger than the Mall of America, home to some 500 stores ranging from Abercrombie & Fitch to Zara, plus an aquarium, theme park and other diversions (mallofamerica.com). It’s 10 miles south of Minneapolis (from $30/£24 by taxi or $1.75 and 30 minutes from downtown using the Blue Line light-rail service).

Light Blue Travel offers a nine-day Life on the Mississippi round trip from Minneapolis aboard the new 166-passenger American Duchess, the first all-suite paddlewheel ship, departing July 30, 2017. From £2,975pp including one hotel night in Minneapolis (01223 568904; lightbluetravel.co.uk).

The Great Lakes

Four of the Great Lakes straddle the US/Canada border; only Lake Michigan, the world’s fifth largest lake, is all-American. Perfect for circumnavigation, its attractions include sandy beaches, 200ft-high dunes, lighthouses and the Dutch-style city of Holland.

At the eastern end of the straits that link lakes Michigan and Huron is four-square-mile Mackinac Island (pronounced Mackin-aw), a Victorian time capsule complete with horse-drawn carriages. Use the boat’s bicycles to pedal the Mackinac Island Loop, the only US state highway where cars are banned.

Top tip

Chicago’s Midwestern friendliness is exemplified by the Chicago Greeter programme (chicagogreeter.com). Take a free, two- to four-hour stroll with a local; choose from dozens of neighbourhoods and themes.

North American Highways offers a seven-night Magical Lake Michigan small-ship cruise on Grande Mariner, a round trip from Chicago, departing August 7, 16 and 25, 2017. From £1,427pp excluding flights. The ship’s bicycles and kayaks can be used free of charge (01924 682008; nahighways.co.uk).